Scotland captain Kelly Brown expects a physical Rugby World Cup 2015

Scotland captain Kelly Brown is expecting a physically-tough World Cup in England in 2015.

The Scots have been drawn with South Africa, Samoa and two qualifers, Asia 1 and Americas 2, for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.

Despite droppping to 12th in the world rankings Scotland have managed to avoid the more awkward second-seeded sides.

"My first thought is that it's going to be incredibly physical," said Brown.

2015 World Cup pools

Pool A: Australia,
England,
Wales,
Oceania 1, play-off winner

Pool B: South Africa, Samoa,
Scotland,
Asia 1, Americas 2

Pool C: New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga, Europe 1, Africa 1

Pool D: France,
Ireland,
Italy, Americas 1, Europe 2

"It's a challenge, but it's one that, as a squad we're really looking forward to.

"We know that if we absolutely nail our performance then we can do well, it's all about making sure that our standards are really high every time we go out there.

"We're here to make Scotland proud, and we know that lately we've not been doing that and it's up to us to work hard over the next three years."

Scotland attack coach Scott Johnson, was optimistic about their chances of qualifying from the pool.

"We knew whatever pool we got would be pretty tough," he said. "But we think we'll be pretty good in that pool.

Analysis

Andy NicolEx-Scotland scrum-half & BBC Sport analyst

"I think it is an outstanding draw for Scotland, a very lucky draw. Scotland's performances in the autumn left them in the third group of seeds and if they had got New Zealand and England, it would have been absolutely horrible. So to draw South Africa and Samoa is very pleasing in comparison. It won't be easy but it could have been an awful lot harder.

"It's nice getting those physical Southern Hemisphere sides up to the north.

"We've got to get our part right, and if we get our part right we'll go through."

Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson also insisted he was still confident Scotland could win the tournament.

"We've determined that that is our goal, and there's nothing to make me believe in that draw that's taken place that will blow us off that course," he said.

The identity of the other two teams in the group will be decided in 2014 and 2013 respectively.

The American qualifier will be decided in 2013, when the loser of the USA v Canada round three qualifier plays the highest-placed team of the 2013 South American Rugby Championship outwith Argentina, who qualify directly.

Whoever wins this tie qualifies as Americas 2.

Asia 1 will be the winning team of the 2014 Asian Five Nations championship.

Scotland have played South Africa once before in the World Cup, losing 46-29 in a pool match at Murrayfield in 1999.

They have also met Samoa in the same tournament, winning 35-20 in a quarter-final play-off before going out to New Zealand in the last eight.

I agree that this is possibly the best draw we could have hoped for, and the World Cup is now a point of focus for the team. But I don't want the World Cup to be some sort of excuse for development. Scotland need a good 6 Nations next year, and I'd rather see the Scotland coach getting the best out of the players now, and looking to better our 'one-win-per-6-Nations' total.

We've gotten off lightly here. However, that doesn't mean we can't win this competition. We really can win it, no joke.

However, it's going to take the SRU getting a successful coach in NOW, and the players working harder than any other international players NOW. If we are the most physicial side in the world we won't just qualify, but win the tournament.

Lets get ourselves an ambitious NZ coach to instill a winning mentality in what is possibly our best group of players for decades....and who knows where we could go in the world cup? I have a wee premanition of playing (and beating) England in the quarters (if they can qualify)!!

It is worth remembering that South Africa were a makeshift side two weeks ago missing half a dozen first picks through injury. That said, with the world cup three years away the new coach wil have a real target to develop a squad towards, including residency based palyers. Oh, and Scott Johnson, stop talking yourself up. 99.9% of Scotland fans don't want you

Agree that it is the best draw that we could have hoped for. Unfortunately on current form, a kind draw may not be enough. I really hope we can up our game and qualify from the Group. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't as we still have the capability of being a good team (as proved by the recent Southern Hemisphere tour).

As good as Scotland could have hoped for. Avoiding NZ essential, France Australia and France are beatable if we are on our game, (happens sometimes). Avoiding second seeds England and Ireland is a right result. If we had made it as second seeds we probably would have got Samoa anyway. A good draw, now it's time to sort out the butter fingered backs, and stitch the head back on the chicken.

I don't think Scotland have too much to fear from SA. SA won through two errors. Scotland get a cutting edge and they're capable of taking the game to the Boks and Samoa. They pushed SA and NZ backwards several times during both matches and the 3 tries against NZ were well taken.

The WC is far away but based on the past year and a bit, SA and Samoa will be the favorites to go through for now.

Samoa lost to wales by 7 points and SA by 8 at the last world cup and if Samoa don't dip it's going to be really tough for Scotland.The Scots should be able to run them close but right now they are not good enough, hopefully that changes.

We could top it and we could get knocked out. I can see us giving South Africa a game and showing bad nerves against a team like the USA or Samoa. Hopefully it will make a psychological difference to the players that we are 3rd seeds not 2nd. I would be panicking if we'd drawn Georgia. I don't think there are any safe games for Scotland in international rugby any more. Time to work hard.

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